Participants: Brian & Diane Hamilton (Host), Lemuel Vega, LT. Vivian Malone
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY016030A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:12 I'm Brian Hamilton, 01:13 and sitting here to my left is my lovely wife Diane. 01:17 And we're going to be your host for this program. 01:22 Diane, what happens when Christmas Behind Bars 01:28 and it's not Christmas, academy, 01:33 Christian students 01:35 from a boarding academy in a county jail, 01:41 lieutenant get together. 01:42 What do you think would happen on a situation like that? 01:45 Well, if the lieutenant knows about Christmas Behind Bars, 01:49 then she will be excited or he. 01:52 And the students, they'll be excited too 01:55 to have this opportunity to share with the inmates. 01:58 And the inmates if they know about it, 02:01 they'll really be excited. 02:03 Well, we're gonna find out more about what that is like. 02:07 And the word is ministry. 02:09 And but before we introduce our guests for this program 02:15 and find out all about 02:18 what we've just teased your mind with. 02:21 We're gonna have some music. 02:23 And we're fortunate to have Yvonne Lewis with us, 02:27 and she is going to be singing 02:30 "Wonders never cease." 02:51 I heard he walked on water 02:56 And opened blinded eyes 03:01 The deaf were made to hear again 03:06 And the dead were called to rise 03:10 But when I gave Him all my heart 03:14 A greater thing took place 03:18 The Lord of every miracle 03:23 Redeemed me by His grace 03:29 And wonders never cease 03:34 As long as I believe 03:38 And place my life 03:40 Within the nail scarred hands 03:44 That bled for me 03:47 And when I think I've seen His best 03:52 I stand amazed to see 03:58 His glory never ends 04:05 And wonders never cease 04:25 He still walks on water 04:30 To calm my trouble seas 04:32 And in the midst of thunder 04:38 I can hear Him speaking peace 04:41 And though some believe His miracles 04:47 Are just part of yesterday 04:51 I'm living proof His changing power 04:56 Will never pass away 05:03 And wonders never cease 05:08 As long as I believe 05:11 And I place my life 05:14 Within the nail scarred hands That bled for me 05:21 And when I think I've seen His best 05:26 I stand amazed to see 05:32 His glory never ends 05:38 And wonders 05:43 never cease 05:46 As long as I believe 05:50 And I place my life 05:53 Within the nail scarred hands That bled for me 05:59 And when I think I've seen His best 06:04 I stand amazed to see 06:10 His glory never ends 06:17 And wonders never cease 06:24 His glory never ends 06:30 And wonders never cease 07:03 It's always nice to hear Yvonne Lewis, 07:07 she has come with us number of times to prison, 07:11 and ministered through her testimony 07:15 as well as her song. 07:16 She has a real heart for men and women 07:19 who are incarcerated. 07:21 And thank you for sharing that with us. 07:25 Again, this is 3ABN Today, 07:27 and I'm Brian Hamilton, 07:28 my wife Diane, and we're your hosts. 07:31 We have two guests with us. 07:34 To my left is Lieutenant Vivian Malone. 07:39 Yes. 07:40 And Vivian, who are... 07:43 where are, were do you work? 07:45 And tell us a little bit about that? 07:47 Yes, Brian, I am Lieutenant Vivian M. Malone. 07:51 And I work for the Delaware County Sheriff's Office 07:55 in the jail division. 07:56 And I'm in charge of jail operations. 07:58 I've been with the department since 1995. 08:02 Okay, so law enforcement. 08:04 It's not very often that we have 08:05 a law enforcement officer on 3ABN, 08:08 I don't know if we should be frightened or not. 08:11 Oh, no, no, no. 08:13 We've found that correctional people 08:16 who are involved in corrections are human, 08:18 just like we are. 08:19 Yes, we are. 08:20 And they have hearts just like we do 08:22 and it is nice to have you with us today, 08:24 and we're going to find out more. 08:26 And sitting next to you is Lemuel Vega 08:29 with Christmas Behind Bars. 08:32 And you have been on 3ABN many times, 08:35 but there may be some viewers today 08:37 who are watching that 08:38 maybe never heard of Christmas Behind Bars, 08:40 so Lemuel, why don't you just tell us brief little bit about 08:43 Christmas Behind Bars? 08:44 Brian, Christmas Behind Bars is a ministry 08:46 that spawned out of the tragedy of my life as a young person, 08:51 sitting in the county jail 08:52 facing 10 to 20 years in prison. 08:54 And volunteers came in at that point in my life. 08:57 And they encouraged me on for Christ. 09:01 Went to prison, got out of prison, 09:03 sadly enough prison doesn't change one's life. 09:06 Incarceration itself doesn't change one's life. 09:09 Out of prison, I struggled with drug addiction 09:11 for probably 12 years, 09:13 and sick and ready to die, 09:14 I kneeled down in a hospital room and I said, 09:16 "Dear, Jesus please help me, I want to quit, but I can't." 09:19 And we began attending church at that point, my wife and I, 09:22 and it was the pastor's wife that had the idea 09:25 of making some little gift packages 09:27 for the folk in the local county jail 09:29 and I said that would be a great idea, 09:30 that would be phenomenal, because 09:32 I remember the volunteers that reached out to me. 09:34 So approximately 19 years now, 09:36 we've been making little packages 09:38 for men's and women's, 09:39 that are in jails and prisons 09:40 to just let them know, 09:42 there is hope for their life through Jesus Christ. 09:43 Wow. That's neat. 09:45 It's not just a seasonal ministry either. 09:46 Okay, so it's not just for Christmas. 09:48 No, it's year around. 09:49 Year around, Christmas Behind Bars, 09:51 year around, that's great. 09:54 So, Lemuel, how did you and Sergeant Malone... 09:59 Lieutenant. Lieutenant. 10:01 Lieutenant, she's progressed now. 10:02 I did that mistake earlier and she was so gracious to me. 10:06 Lieutenant Malone, how did you connect? 10:09 Well, this ministry started with one county jail 10:12 of about 350 inmates. 10:14 And on the way home that night, I told my wife, I said, 10:16 "Baby, you couldn't give me a brand new Corvette 10:19 for the blessing I received." 10:21 And then so the next year, we did two jail, then three, 10:24 then four, then six, then 10, then 15. 10:27 And at some point in that growth, 10:29 it continues to grow today, 10:31 but at some point in that growth, 10:32 I think you received a phone call. 10:34 It was a phone call, yes it was. 10:37 And I was like, okay, because 10:40 we always get calls in the jail 10:42 for people wanting to bring in new programs 10:44 and bring in new programs. 10:46 But I actually listen to what he said, 10:49 and he wanted to bring in gifts and things. 10:53 And it was... 10:55 He wanted to know what we would allow him to bring in. 10:59 So when he started talking like that, 11:01 I knew that he knew some structure of the facility. 11:05 But he also wanted to do a need, 11:08 a care for the inmates, 11:10 so therefore I knew that he had a care for the inmates, 11:14 a true genuine care. 11:16 Okay. 11:17 So at that point, I said, 11:18 "Okay, I think I'm gonna try this." 11:21 And I went to our sheriff at that time. 11:23 And explained to him the situation 11:25 and what we wanted to try 11:27 to attempt to do and that would also ease things 11:30 on the inmates in the facility also, 11:33 because day to day stressors, 11:35 they need something else to shield that. 11:38 We do actually care about them as human beings. 11:42 And I thought that this would be a good thing. 11:44 And so from that approximately ten years ago now 11:50 that from that phone call, this relationship has grown, 11:55 and it has been nothing but a positive in our facility. 11:58 Well, that's great to hear. 12:02 Lieutenant Malone, 12:04 how in the world did you 12:06 come to be involved in correctional 12:10 and that type of thing, 12:11 was this something you dreamed about as a young girl, 12:13 you thought, oh, boy, I want to work in jails or prisons or 12:17 how did that come about? 12:19 Never. 12:21 I never thought about working in a jail in my life. 12:27 At some point in time I had wanted to do law enforcement. 12:32 And I did test, I tested for state 12:38 and I also tested for our local multi police department 12:43 and at a particular time, 12:45 I was on their list and that was from 1993 to 1995. 12:50 Well, in the meantime while you go through that process, 12:53 well, you have to have income coming in, 12:56 and I had just recently graduated from college also. 13:01 I had a family and so we sat down, 13:03 and the chief from the Delaware County Sheriff's Department 13:07 approached me one weekend, and he says, 13:11 "I need you to come to work for me." 13:12 And I thought, "No, not in a jail. 13:15 I'm not coming into jail." 13:17 And we go back and forth and then he told me, you know, 13:20 about some of the benefits 13:21 and everything and I thought well, 13:23 okay maybe I can use this until I get to the road, 13:27 because a lot of people do use corrections as a stepping stone 13:31 to go to the road. 13:33 Okay. 13:34 But I tested, got there and after getting there, 13:39 things just started to click. 13:40 Okay. 13:41 And my work was fine, I knew what I was doing. 13:46 We were going through a huge lawsuit at the time 13:49 with the facility and I just seem to fit in. 13:53 Okay. 13:54 So now, 21 years later, I'm still there in corrections. 13:59 Wow, that's something. 14:02 So for us, who haven't had any kind of background 14:09 with law enforcement. 14:12 What's kind of hierarchy in a jail system, 14:16 I know in a prison you have a warden. 14:18 Sometimes you have a two assistant wardens, 14:22 you have one for operations and another one for programs. 14:28 But on a jail, how does that work? 14:31 On a County jail level, 14:32 it's almost the same as in a huge prison. 14:36 You have so many different titles in a prison 14:39 because you're working with the very huge population. 14:41 You're talking thousands now 14:43 compared to broke down to hundreds 14:45 in a county facility. 14:47 So in a county facility, 14:48 you always have your jail commander. 14:50 Okay. 14:52 And he's over all total operations. 14:54 And the end, you have your breakdown, 14:57 and it really just kind of depends, 14:59 because we've been through several different breakdowns. 15:02 But right now, you have the jail operations officer, 15:05 which is right under him and he... 15:07 they handle everything before it gets to him hopefully. 15:11 Okay. 15:12 And that's exactly what my position is right now, 15:15 I'm charge of jail operations. 15:17 So I deal with the operations of the inmates 15:20 along with the operations of the correctional staff, 15:26 and try to make all of that work together. 15:29 So that it makes everyone's job easier 15:32 and it makes the inmate's life easier inside also, 15:36 if you bring it together in harmony. 15:39 Okay. 15:41 Well, tell us how this 15:42 interaction with Christmas Behind Bars. 15:46 And these young people had talked about 15:49 coming from a boarding academy. 15:50 How is that worked for you and how did that develop? 15:55 When we originally started with Christmas Behind Bars, 15:58 it was adults. 16:00 And the adults came in with the packages, 16:02 and spreading the word, 16:05 singing with the inmates and everything 16:07 and we would approximately have six, 16:10 maybe seven different groups that will come in at once 16:14 because, of course, we can't just open up 16:16 and have everyone come down. 16:18 So it was the men. 16:20 So, one day I got a call from Lemuel, 16:23 and he wanted to do something with the academy 16:26 that they were doing, 16:27 and they were trying to teach their youth on responsibility 16:32 and caring and what giving actually means, 16:35 so that they could see, 16:37 what it's like to give and actually get the response. 16:41 So at first, was a little bit leery because 16:45 they are under the age of 18. 16:47 Okay. 16:48 But I thought that we could do this program successfully 16:53 with the amount of staff. 16:55 So we just stepped out and said, 16:58 "Okay, this is what we're going to do." 17:00 That was a bit of a risk then, wasn't it? 17:03 It could be. Yes, it could be. 17:04 So they have considered that. 17:06 But, just took everything into consideration 17:10 and always had the amount of staffing there 17:12 that I needed for security purposes, 17:15 but it worked wonderfully. 17:17 And since the academy has been coming in, 17:21 actually the inmates were a lot more receptive 17:26 with the academy students. 17:28 Oh. 17:31 I don't know quite how to put it, 17:33 but a lot of the inmates that are in your facilities. 17:37 They've done things in the drugs and everything, 17:40 take over their lives and they don't realize 17:43 how much it affects not only their lives but their families. 17:48 A lot of them have children. Okay. 17:51 That are the ages of the ones 17:53 that are coming in ministering to them. 17:57 So you have these youth from the academy coming in 18:01 reading Bible verses, singing songs. 18:05 Okay. 18:06 And at some point in time, 18:08 we even have a question and answer session with them. 18:12 And I saw the students going from being 18:17 very close and frightened to opening up, 18:22 and even asking because some of the young offenders 18:26 that they saw in there, 18:27 they were really touched by that because 18:30 they are telling them. 18:32 My life is over right now 18:34 because of the decisions that I've made. 18:37 Then they give the message to the youth in the academy. 18:41 Please think about the decisions that you make. 18:45 Oh, that's good, yeah. 18:47 So, Lemuel, tell us from your perspective you... 18:50 How did the academy respond to your suggestions? 18:54 I would like to say that the impact 18:56 that the young people have on the inmates' lives 18:59 is I remember 18 years old sitting in the county jail 19:02 wishing I could go back to that 13 year old age, 19:05 and so the inmates there, 19:07 they are in a place they've done something wrong. 19:08 And for these young people to come in 19:10 and tell them about Christ, 19:12 tell them there's hope for their life. 19:13 That is absolutely phenomenal. 19:15 The Indiana Academy, we have a picture now. 19:19 They have 120 students at the Indiana Academy 19:22 and one month ago, 19:24 we were with Lieutenant Malone, 19:25 and there's three separate groups here of students. 19:28 They split up into three different groups. 19:30 Out of the 120 students that the Indiana Academy has. 19:34 They have a program called Project 58. 19:36 So some students are baking bread 19:38 for people visiting nursing homes 19:40 and these 28 students have signed up 19:43 to be part of the prison pod. 19:45 So they have the scriptures, they actually have sermons 19:47 that's when they go from pod to pod 19:49 and it's just phenomenal, 19:51 the receptiveness that the inmates have for that. 19:53 Indian Academy has been involved 19:55 with Christmas Behind Bars 19:56 for probably last six or seven years. 19:59 And they come and they help put together 20:01 these gift packages. 20:03 So when we say, 20:04 Christmas Behind Bars and gift packages, 20:05 we think of a Christmas gift that's wrapped real nice. 20:09 This is a gift package 20:10 that is provided for the county jails 20:13 at no cost to them, 20:14 and every inmate and staff receives something 20:17 from Christmas Behind Bars. 20:19 So that's, they come and help 20:21 assemble the packages on some of their off months. 20:23 And on some of the other months, 20:25 then they come in and help distribute them 20:27 and do the program, so it's just a real blessing. 20:29 Now, is academy involved 20:31 on the jail level or the prison level or both? 20:33 Jail, jail, level only. 20:35 Yeah, jail level, because usually on a prison level 20:38 you have to be a minimum of 18 I would guess 20:42 and older to be involved, okay. 20:45 How does this, 20:46 impact the lives of the young people, 20:48 have they expressed anything about, 20:50 about that as they've come in and left? 20:53 I have seen a change in their lives, 20:55 how about you Lieutenant? 20:56 Yes, I have. 20:58 Like you said, we've been doing this about six years 21:01 but there are some students in the academy 21:04 that started when they were a freshman at the academy. 21:07 And this year, I got to witness the ones that are seniors. 21:11 And as a matter of fact, here in a few weeks, 21:14 we will be doing our last one for this year. 21:17 But they're seniors now. 21:19 And I have watched them grow. 21:21 And just grow into some very caring individuals 21:26 and it has made changes as far as 21:29 what they want to go out and do in life. 21:31 They want to give back to the community, 21:34 they want to help out someone that is in need but then also, 21:38 it has not made them so naive to think that 21:41 life is going to be great 21:43 and when they ready and they just. 21:46 Now, it was like they were like this, 21:48 and are just so afraid thinking that 21:51 inmates were horrible people, 21:54 and that something was always going to happen to them 21:57 to knowing that inmates are humans also. 22:01 They've just made bad decisions. 22:03 And so, when they come in 22:05 already know what reception I'm going to get 22:08 and they're just laughing and, 22:10 "Oh, hi, you Lieutenant Malone." 22:12 Most of them call me sergeant, but that doesn't matter 22:15 just as long as they say Malone, it doesn't matter. 22:17 Okay. 22:18 But they come here, and they're happy, 22:21 they're laughing, okay, 22:23 where are we going to go today, what are we gonna do? 22:25 How many people are we going to see? 22:27 And then some of them even have certain groups that 22:31 they want to like, some of the group 22:35 want to be with the female inmates. 22:37 Okay. 22:38 Because they feel the connection. 22:41 Real quick. 22:42 What kind of impact does this ministry have at your facility 22:46 prior to our arrival and then once we depart. 22:50 And would you recommend this program to other facilities? 22:54 When it's been a few months, 22:56 like you said Christmas Behind Bars. 22:59 It started out Christmas Behind Bars 23:01 but we see them at Easter. 23:04 We see them sometimes around Thanksgiving. 23:07 And we see them around Christmas time. 23:10 So they're like, okay the first time it happened, it's like, 23:13 it's not Christmas. 23:14 Yeah, we know but Christmas Behind Bars 23:16 has come with the special gift today. 23:19 And so, now they look forward to it, 23:22 so when it's been a few months. 23:24 I may start getting little messages, 23:26 "When Christmas Behind Bars coming? 23:28 When's Christmas Behind Bars coming again?" 23:31 And those are for inmates that have been there for while 23:33 or repeat. 23:35 So they, they start looking forward to it. 23:38 Then on the day of it, you know, 23:40 you've cut out all programs, because Christmas Behind Bars 23:44 is the only thing that you do on that day, 23:46 so they already know. 23:48 After the fact, they're ready. 23:50 They're waiting on the students to come and to pass, 23:53 they're waiting to listen to what they have. 23:56 It's not just that bag. Okay. 23:59 It's not just that bag 24:00 there of free items that they're getting. 24:03 It's the point that those bags come in, 24:07 they have items, they have hygiene items. 24:10 It's only a few pieces of candy that only lasts for a minute. 24:14 But it's the thing that when they come in 24:17 and they actually give it to them personally 24:20 and say bless you. 24:23 It's that kindness right there. 24:26 And after the fact some of them say it and they reflect it 24:30 and then just the communication that we get, 24:33 you know thank you very much for this. 24:35 I was feeling a certain way today. 24:37 We've had people that were 24:40 suicidal on the days that they came in. 24:43 And then at that point, you know, 24:45 I have to make a decision whether they're going to see 24:47 those inmates that day or not. 24:49 So what I started doing with the suicidal inmates 24:51 or something. 24:53 If they were on watches, 24:54 I started taking Lemuel in 24:58 and not traumatizing a youth like that. 25:01 But I started taking Lemuel in to speak words of encouragement 25:05 and things like that, 25:07 and still give them a gift 25:10 to let them see that there is hope. 25:13 There's some type of hope there. 25:15 And you'd really be surprised as to how many inmates 25:21 we can get off a disciplinary action on that day, 25:25 off suicide watch on that day, because they were like, 25:31 "They really came in here to save me." 25:33 Yeah. Amen. 25:34 Yes. 25:36 I'd like to just jump in here about suicide watch. 25:38 We were at a prison with almost three, over 3,000 inmates. 25:41 And we unloaded all the bags 25:43 which was a semi tractor trailer full of bags. 25:46 We unloaded all the bags in the prison, 25:47 and it was count time 25:49 and so the inmates that helped us unload the truck 25:50 couldn't go nowhere. 25:52 And I said, "Does anybody here have anything to say about 25:54 what Christmas Behind Bars is meant to you." 25:56 And one inmate say I just want to let you know. 25:59 They let the prisoners know that the program is coming. 26:03 I don't know if it's four, six weeks earlier, 26:04 the programs come in. 26:06 He said, "I want to let you know, 26:08 that I'm on suicide watch 26:09 and I watch people with them 24/7 26:12 if they're on suicide watch." 26:13 And he said, "Since we knew this program 26:15 was coming to our prison, 26:16 we have not had one suicide watch initiated. 26:20 Not one in a four to six week period why is that?" 26:23 Because the inmates were anticipating something, 26:26 something, looking forward to something. 26:28 And we as Christians are in anticipation 26:32 of the soon return of Jesus Christ. 26:33 And so we should be looking forward 26:35 to in our lives being prepared that. 26:37 And that's what this ministry is endeavoring to do 26:40 is bring the everlasting gospel to those who are incarcerated 26:44 to let them know, there's hope for their life. 26:46 She said, she takes me to the suicide watch 26:48 to the disciplinary cells. 26:50 We speak to them a few words. 26:52 But it's not just about talk. 26:54 It's about leaving them 26:59 the Path to Peace, 27:01 the written word of God. 27:03 And after we leave, 27:05 we're just sowing seeds while we're there. 27:07 And after we leave, 27:09 we just leave it in the Lord's hands so. 27:11 And, you know a little bit about prison ministries, 27:12 you've been volunteering here, and doing a great work here 27:15 and we appreciate working with you 27:18 and 3ABN in prison ministries. 27:19 Thank you. 27:22 And Diane and I have a son who is incarcerated. 27:26 And we, we took a whole new view of the text 27:32 in as much as you have done it. 27:34 Until one of the least of these my brethren 27:38 you've done it unto me. 27:41 Every young man, young woman every person 27:46 who is either in a jail or a prison 27:50 is a child of God, a son and daughter of God. 27:54 And when someone like you and I 27:56 go into a prison 28:00 and just visit and share our time with them, 28:03 a bit of our love with them. 28:06 What we're doing is we're doing it for God. 28:09 Amen. 28:10 You know, and those are His children. 28:13 When someone would come and visit our son, and Lemuel, 28:17 you're one of those people. 28:18 You and Donna came in 28:20 and visit our son all the way out in California, 28:22 made the trip out there and visited him. 28:26 It was like you were doing it for us and I got. 28:29 We got an understanding... Yes. 28:31 Of that text in a whole new way, you know, 28:35 as a result of that so. 28:36 Yes, Lieutenant Malone, 28:40 they are bringing in a few goodies. 28:42 But really behind the goodies is love, 28:46 it's an expression of love. 28:48 These young people with their shining bright faces, 28:50 and smiles, and optimism. 28:53 And they're coming in there and relating to these girls, 28:57 men and women who have, 28:59 who think maybe life is over with for them, 29:01 I mean they're in jail looking maybe toward prison time 29:05 and they think, they've just blown it. 29:08 And here these kids come in and so full of hope and love. 29:13 And so it does make an impact. 29:15 And I've watched it happen, you know. 29:18 Diane and I had the privilege 29:20 of going to the Maranatha, 29:25 no, it wasn't Maranatha, 29:27 and it was ASI Convention in Grand Rapids. 29:31 And we joined the young people there 29:33 and putting the packages together. 29:35 Well, they were having a great time doing that 29:37 and then actually got to visit the county facility there 29:41 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 29:43 And that was a memorable event, I remember that. 29:46 Well, you orchestrated all that. 29:48 And that's what we need other people to know that 29:50 if there's an open door, we're willing to go, 29:52 so the Lord used you to open that door. 29:54 The Lord used Lieutenant Malone to open that door. 29:57 And through her recommendation 29:59 to another county jails and prisons, 30:01 the ministry continues to grow. 30:02 We have another roll in. 30:04 Some pictures here, maybe we can look at those. 30:07 The next one I think is a check. 30:10 Everybody needs money for ministry. 30:12 At least we do and the prison 30:14 at the correctional industrial facility 30:17 actually donated $ 1,250 from the legion. 30:20 The American Legion Post inside the prison did a fundraiser 30:24 and donated $1,250 to Christmas Behind Bars. 30:28 Now, with that fundraiser, 30:29 we actually have another picture here. 30:33 And this is outside the prison, 30:35 we just unloaded many packages into the prison. 30:37 And then we have a couple of our volunteers 30:39 who work at the warehouse day in and day out, 30:42 Joe Brickley and then Brandy Bywater. 30:44 And it's volunteers that make this ministry run. 30:47 God orchestrates it, but it's volunteers. 30:49 And with that money, 30:51 we are going to purchase Creation magazines. 30:54 So if you're familiar with Creation magazines, 30:56 you can help us, help them to get us more magazine. 30:59 So Creation magazines has been a phenomenal ministry 31:02 that we're able to give the inmates 31:04 the truth and the word of God. 31:06 They say a picture is worth a thousand words. 31:09 These are worth millions. Okay. 31:11 Yeah, I was gonna ask you, Lemuel, why, 31:13 why did you pick Creation Illustrated. 31:17 Why do you put pictures in your bags even, 31:19 I noticed you put little postcard pictures in there. 31:22 When I was in prison, 31:24 in segregation a picture mean so much, 31:26 you can't see outside, you can't be outside. 31:28 And this has the story of creation 31:30 in the midst of society 31:31 where they're downplaying creation. 31:34 This brings truth along with beautiful photography. 31:37 So Creation Illustrated is well worth 31:40 people sponsorship for the prisoners. 31:42 Maybe our viewers don't quite understand but 31:46 the colors in a jail or a prison are pretty... 31:49 Pale. 31:50 Pale, drab, 31:52 and we dress like this when we go in to do ministry. 31:57 And we've had a number of inmates come to us and say, 32:00 "Oh, it's so nice to see the color," 32:02 you know, like a red tie 32:04 or you know Diane has different color outfits on, 32:08 and to be able to see the color. 32:10 You miss color when you're in a facility like that 32:13 and you're confined for periods of time. 32:16 You miss color. 32:18 And so the magazine is one of the most colorful magazines 32:22 that there are along with truth in it and so. 32:26 Creation Illustrated actually allow us 32:29 to get their back issues for like a dollar a piece, 32:32 so they're back issues 32:34 that we're able to give to the prisoners, so that's great. 32:35 I think we have another picture. 32:37 This picture here is of large prison about 3,300 inmates. 32:43 And every one of these inmates have received a book. 32:46 It's "The Path to Peace," you can see it in their hand 32:48 and I have some right here. 32:50 There's a ministry called 32:52 "Project Steps to Christ." 32:53 And we want the inmates to know, 32:55 what steps that they need to take. 32:57 We can tell them, we can give them gifts 33:00 but Project Steps to Christ, 33:01 The Path to Peace is a gift that continues to remain 33:05 throughout the year. 33:06 And I promise these inmates 33:07 that wherever they start in this. 33:09 It can be the first chapter, it can be the second chapter. 33:11 It will be a blessing to their life. 33:13 So Project Steps to Christ has had a desire 33:15 to put one of these in every inmates' gift package. 33:20 And we want to say thank you for your sponsorship 33:22 for these books, Project Steps of Christ, 33:24 The Path to Peace. 33:26 God bless you. 33:27 Brian? Yeah. 33:29 Well, let's just stop a minute and tell us how the day goes 33:34 when Christmas Behind Bars comes to your facility. 33:37 How does... 33:39 What happens when that event takes place? 33:44 What happens is the inmates assume the night prior 33:48 to when we will not pass out programs 33:51 and things program sheets and sign up for activities. 33:55 When that happens, the inmates are like, 33:58 "We've got Christmas Behind Bars." 34:00 Because I don't tell things like that 34:02 a week in advance or anything, 34:04 because we just can't do that for security reasons. 34:08 Okay. 34:09 But the night prior to, they already know 34:12 and by the time I get there the next morning. 34:14 If I'm not working that night. 34:17 They'll be Sergeant, Sergeant or Lieutenant Malone, 34:20 Christmas Behind Bars, gonna be here tomorrow, 34:22 Christmas Behind Bars is gonna be here tomorrow. 34:24 What can I do or can, you know, 34:26 they'll start offering to claim to, 34:29 be able to come out, to organize, I mean it's, 34:33 it's just so helpful. 34:35 Things are so helpful at that time. 34:38 And just calming and people try and figure out well, 34:42 what does she mean, they're just doing that, 34:44 because they're getting some free food or... 34:47 No, that's not it at all. 34:49 Okay. It's not. 34:51 So the van load of kids arrive or the bus load of kids arrive. 34:56 Walk us through the process? 34:58 Amen. 34:59 First of all, Lemuel, 35:01 they get there with all the packages for us all, 35:04 all of the officers 35:05 and I have a lot of officers that volunteer 35:08 to come in at that time because 35:10 I have only a minimum amount of staff. 35:15 On that day, I need a minimum of 15 to 20 officers. 35:21 And we may only have nine scheduled working. 35:24 So I have to get officers to volunteer 35:27 and I'd never have a problem with that. 35:29 They're like, "Okay, Christmas Behind Bars is here, 35:31 "they set it up for a training session. 35:33 Okay. 35:35 That's what they do, they are our cell extraction team. 35:39 They set that up for training event, 35:42 so there is no charge or no overtime or anything 35:46 and they all volunteer to come in 35:48 and help organize that they know 35:50 that I'm gonna need three officers in a block at a time, 35:55 so if you take three officers in a block at a time. 35:58 And you've got four different groups. 36:00 That's 12 officers right there. 36:03 Okay. 36:04 Explain what a block is? 36:07 A block is the, a living area for an inmate. 36:10 Okay. 36:11 I may have a small one 36:13 which may contain eight inmates. 36:16 Then when you get to our larger pods, 36:18 you're talking 30 inmates. 36:20 So a block and a pod are 36:22 similar terms for a place where... 36:24 Some facilities call them pods. 36:26 He's used to saying pods all the time 36:28 and I had to get used to that term, 36:30 because we use blocks. 36:32 Okay. 36:33 And blocks and pods are basically the same thing, 36:36 just called different things in a different facility. 36:38 Okay. 36:40 So, about how many young people come in 36:44 at a time for one of these events? 36:47 Do you do break them up in group? 36:48 Yes. 36:50 They break down into usually four different groups. 36:52 Okay, four different groups. 36:54 And it's usually four groups of maybe seven I think, 36:58 six or seven. 36:59 Okay. 37:01 And then they have their youth instructors 37:05 and everything with them. 37:06 They bring in their guitars. 37:09 And their different law instruments that they use, 37:12 because they actually at least sing a song 37:15 while they're in there, at least one. 37:17 And sometimes they even get the inmates 37:19 to join in with them. 37:21 It's really, really caring sight to see. 37:25 And they all do that, 37:26 they all have their papers and believe it or not, 37:30 just because you're inmate does not mean 37:32 that you don't know Christ. 37:34 And that you have not been brought up 37:36 in a Christian atmosphere. 37:38 You've just strayed away from that. 37:41 And when they say, "Join us in this song." 37:45 They do it. 37:46 They do and they can sing the words, 37:48 they don't need the papers or anything. 37:50 They do that and then you'll have the, 37:53 the youth in the cell blocks leading. 37:55 And of course, we have to leave the inmates 37:58 locked down in the cells at that time. 38:00 But they're in the cells, they're at the doors 38:03 and they're singing and they're clapping. 38:06 And they're interacting with the youth. 38:09 And then at that point in time, 38:10 we usually spend maybe about ten minutes in, 38:13 and then they start passing out the gifts 38:16 and we will open up the doors. 38:17 One door at a time, 38:19 so they can actually have the physical contact 38:22 with that student as they physically give them that 38:27 and say please enjoy. 38:29 Amen. 38:30 I'd like to say some about volunteering. 38:32 You're the only jail that has brought eight, 38:35 ten of her workers 38:37 down to the warehouse and actually, 38:39 we assembled 15,000 packages 38:41 with many of her volunteer officers 38:43 on their day off to come down and put packages together. 38:46 Now, before the students get there, 38:48 we show up as she said, 38:49 and outside their cell, they'll get a toothbrush, 38:52 they'll get soap, shampoo, they'll get a Bible, 38:56 and then the gift package so all this stuff is laid out 38:58 counted out outside the blocks prior to the students coming. 39:03 Once they come, they pick all the stuff up. 39:05 They go in, they do their presentation, 39:07 they do their program. 39:08 They pass out their stuff, they come out. 39:10 Then they go down to the next block, 39:11 so it's amazing the coordination it takes. 39:13 Okay, now in a block, 39:14 is there like cells in a day room is that how yours? 39:18 Yes, ours is set up with the day room 39:21 and then you have cells and we have a bottom tier, 39:24 and a top tier of cells. 39:27 We are two tier in the blocks 39:29 along with the day room and that's how it is. 39:31 So the inmates are in their cells. 39:34 In their cells, yes. 39:35 And they're looking out a window. 39:38 And in her, in her jail, 39:39 it's laid out to where it's all wire. 39:42 So the inmates it's wire they can talk, 39:43 they can converse real well, so it's wire for the door. 39:46 And it's wonderful. Okay. 39:48 Yes, our doors aren't like some that you see in the prisons 39:53 that are all metal 39:54 and then you just have this one little bitty glass. 39:57 Our doors are all metal wired. 40:01 It's not like real thin wire. 40:03 They're actually put together with metal. 40:06 So but they're open. 40:08 So therefore, there's a lot, 40:10 you're able to communicate through those doors, 40:12 and everything very well so 40:15 they can hear everything going on. 40:17 And like I say, it just works like a routine. 40:20 We go in, we do that 40:22 and the kids are all giddy and laughing 40:25 and everything, it's just really fun to see. 40:28 You would have to actually witness it 40:31 in order to get the feeling and then... 40:35 We've just did several programs like he said, 40:37 we go down and volunteers 40:39 so in order to tell everybody on what, 40:42 what we were doing 40:44 and why I thought that this program was so good. 40:47 I challenged them to come down with me 40:50 one Sunday to a packing. 40:53 And we went down and we had a ball. 40:55 It's like an assembly line 40:57 and you're packing this 40:59 and then some of the guys were like, 41:01 "Hey, Sarge, they shouldn't be getting this in the jail." 41:04 And so, guess what? 41:06 You're right there on the front line now, you can tell say, 41:09 "Hey, this isn't good." 41:11 You're just going to waste it 41:12 if you take it to certain facilities 41:15 because they won't allow it. 41:17 So we went to Lemuel and said, 41:18 "Lemuel, this should not go in these bags," 41:21 and guess what? 41:22 That came off the line, 41:24 and then it did not waste money, 41:26 and things that have been donated at that point in time. 41:30 So we were just there. 41:32 My grandson has even gone down, 41:34 because the academy students and everything is there. 41:37 My grandson has gone down, 41:38 and then the first thing he said after we finish was, 41:41 "Grandma, when we going to do this again?" 41:45 I'd like to just say real quick, 41:46 some of the items that we don't put in the bags anymore. 41:49 We used to put peanuts roasted and salted in the shell 41:52 in every bag, 41:53 just because fresh peanuts I love them. 41:54 But I got a call from a sheriff one day, and he says, 41:56 "You know what?" 41:58 He said, "They're crushing up the shells and smoking them, 42:00 do not put peanuts in the bag anymore," 42:02 I said, "Absolutely, so we want to perfect these packages, 42:05 this ministry for any jail or any prison 42:08 that you might contact or that we might contact. 42:11 And I believe we have a word of recommendation 42:13 from Lieutenant Malone that it's worth while. 42:15 Can we go to the Bible. 42:17 I want to talk about Bibles here just real quick. 42:19 Yes, let's do that. 42:20 Okay. It's a good time. 42:22 We'll get the Bibles. 42:23 We passed out Bibles to every inmate 42:26 at the local county jail. 42:28 But these Bibles are made possible by sponsors. 42:32 So these Bibles are made possible by sponsors. 42:34 And we have a picture right now of a lady 42:38 that represents one of our sponsor. 42:40 Sponsor our network of volunteers. 42:43 And this lady Brian is 100 years old 42:46 and I just got word this morning 42:49 that she has shipped 93 boxes of used Bibles 42:52 that she gets from the thrift store. 42:55 And these Bibles come into the warehouse 42:56 at Christmas Behind Bars. 42:58 We go through them, we stamp them 42:59 with the Amazing Facts address in there. 43:01 We put Bible studies in there. 43:03 And then lieutenant, 43:05 you receive these Bibles down at your jail. 43:07 Can you tell me the impact 43:08 of giving them the written word of God? 43:10 Yes. 43:12 Most of the inmates, people don't think of inmates, 43:15 like I said as being Christians. 43:17 And when these Bibles come in, 43:19 if they don't get one they're like, 43:20 I didn't get my Bible. 43:22 You only need one Bible, but I want that Bible. 43:25 So they'll change out the Bibles that they have 43:28 for the ones that were just brought in 43:30 and actually given to them by someone. 43:34 That's like when you receive 43:36 your first Bible from your parents. 43:38 You write your name in there and you say, 43:40 "This was given to me by my mom, my dad." 43:44 And you cherish that Bible. 43:46 That's the one that they want, it was given to them personally 43:51 by someone that they thought they cared about them. 43:54 Amen. 43:55 Lemuel, you, you interact with people in jail 43:58 that aren't always Christian 44:00 in terms of their religious heritage. 44:03 Tell us how that works with Christmas Behind Bars? 44:07 You know, we just had a little deal. 44:09 It's been a year ago. 44:12 We went to this huge prison in Kentucky, 44:14 huge prison and it was the last service of the day. 44:17 Inmates have to volunteer to come out, it's not mandated. 44:20 It was a last service of the day. 44:22 And the chaplain came up to me in that service, 44:24 I mean just before the inmates are seated, 44:26 just before the service started inmates are seated. 44:28 And the chaplain come up and he says, "Hey! 44:30 You got the main Muslim leader 44:32 in this whole prison in this service. 44:34 And I'm thinking, "Well, what am I supposed to do about that, 44:36 I don't really didn't know what he meant by that." 44:38 But lo and behold, 44:41 all the inmates were dismissed from that service 44:45 and there were two men set in the middle of the chapel. 44:47 And this great big guy came up to me 44:49 and he says you know, 44:50 He said, "My momma is really sick. 44:52 She has cancer 44:53 and I'd like to know if you'd have prayer for me, for her." 44:56 So we went in the back room, we kneeled down 44:58 and had prayer he left to go get his gift package and leave, 45:00 the chaplain come up and he says, 45:01 "What did he say? 45:03 What did he say?" 45:04 I said, "Well, he want to have prayer." 45:05 He said, "That's the guy. 45:07 That's the main Muslim leader 45:08 in the whole prison right there." 45:09 Well, there he left. 45:11 Didn't have his name, didn't know 45:12 anything about him he left. 45:14 Well two weeks ago, 45:15 we were at that same prison in Kentucky. 45:16 And I was thinking about this man, 45:18 I don't know his name, I don't know what... 45:19 Remember what he looks like. 45:20 And at the end of the service, he came up to me. 45:22 He said, "You probably don't remember me." 45:23 He said, "That last year you had prayer." 45:25 I said, "Yes, absolutely for your mother how she doing?" 45:29 He said, "My mom is doing a lot better." 45:31 He said, "I'd like to know if you have prayer with me again." 45:33 He said, "I'm thinking about being a Christian." 45:36 And we went in the back, 45:37 we kneeled down, we had prayer. 45:38 He had prayer. 45:40 And my wife just sent him a study Bible. 45:42 So the value of Bibles, new or used, 45:45 this ministry needs Bibles and devotional materials 45:48 to give to the inmates. 45:49 And, Brian, thank you for all you've done to help 45:50 Christmas Behind Bars and 3ABN. 45:52 Oh, thank you. 45:54 You know, it doesn't matter what religion. 45:59 The human has love that God created in our hearts. 46:05 And so whether it's Muslim or Hindu or 46:09 we all have a common element. 46:12 Amen. And that element is love. 46:14 And that's what's been communicated 46:16 there love and caring. 46:19 This man loved his mother. 46:21 He was concerned of his, for his mother. 46:24 And you were concerned for him, and showed caring 46:27 and he thought maybe this is someone 46:29 who could speak a word to God in my mother's behalf you know. 46:34 And so there's a commonness there, you know. 46:37 And that's, that's the wonderful thing 46:39 about prison ministry. 46:40 Well, you know, Lemuel, the gospel is free. 46:44 There is no, no charge for the gospel. 46:47 Jesus paid it all. Yes. 46:49 And that was a big price. Jesus paid it all. 46:51 But just like for 3ABN for us to, 46:54 to air to the world, there's a charge, 46:58 there's a cost. 46:59 For you to do what you're doing. 47:03 The gift packages do cost money. 47:06 Amen. 47:07 And sadly, that's reality. 47:10 And that money has to come from somewhere. 47:12 And maybe this is a good time for us to share the address. 47:16 If you would like to help sponsor 47:18 either Bibles or other gift bags 47:21 for Christmas Behind Bars. 47:23 We have an address roll here that will share with you, 47:27 how you can be involved 47:29 with Lemuel and Christmas Behind Bars. 47:31 Or come and be a sponsor. 47:33 Come and help out volunteering. 47:34 That will work too. 47:37 If you like to support this ministry, 47:39 then you can write to Christmas Behind Bars, 47:42 PO Box 474, Bluffton, Indiana 46714. 47:47 That's Christmas Behind Bars. 47:50 PO Box 474, Bluffton, Indiana 46714. 47:55 You can call 260-827-8835. 47:59 That's 260-827-8835. 48:03 You can also visit them online 48:05 at christmasbehindbars.com. 48:08 That's christmasbehindbars.com. 48:12 Call or write to them today. 48:14 They'd love to hear from you. 48:22 Well, that's been good information 48:23 and you want to be sure 48:25 and contact Christmas Behind Bars. 48:28 Diane, you and I have been involved with 48:30 the gift package program. 48:32 Why don't you tell our viewers a little bit about that? 48:34 Okay. 48:36 Our church, the Thompsonville Church 48:38 has helped us readily 48:41 and many turned out to help us package up the bags. 48:48 I don't know 150 people, 100 people. 48:52 And they just really enjoy it. We do it Sabbath afternoon. 48:56 And the guys at prison, they say Sabbath afternoon. 49:00 And it's like yeah, they want to come and do this, 49:04 it's a small part that even the children can help package 49:08 and they just have a ball. 49:11 They just have a ball. 49:12 And it's how fast can we get it done 49:15 and this assembly line 49:17 and it's a real privilege for them to participate, 49:23 even though they can't go in and do what we do. 49:26 They can participate this way. 49:28 So I recommend any church out there 49:31 that might like to have Lemuel 49:33 and Christmas Behind Bars come to their 49:36 local prison or jail. 49:39 It's a wonderful activity 49:42 that the whole church can be involved in. 49:44 Amen. Yeah. 49:46 The program that our church helps with is for prison called 49:51 Big Muddy, here in Illinois. 49:54 It's a state facility and we're talking about 2,000. 49:59 So this takes about a semi-load 50:01 of materials that Lemuel brings in a week or two ahead of time. 50:06 And we set our gym up with an assembly line, 50:09 that usually takes a day 50:10 or so for us to put that together. 50:13 But when the church comes together, it is, 50:16 it is a great event, 50:17 and we just have a wonderful afternoon together. 50:20 And the guys at Big Muddy, 50:22 they are all looking forward to it from a month ahead, 50:25 just like you were saying in your county jail, 50:28 they're all asking when is Christmas Behind Bars coming. 50:30 Is Christmas Behind Bars coming this year? 50:33 And... 50:34 Tell us, tell us about the Pinckneyville Prison, 50:36 so that's kind on the radar, 50:38 that's something we're reaching out 50:39 to a new prison, the new one. 50:40 Yeah. That's the new one that we're gonna-- 50:42 that we are reaching out to. 50:43 We had a training session with, the wardens were there, 50:46 program and the operations warden 50:50 and the head warden were there. 50:52 And we had a chance to introduce 50:54 Christmas Behind Bars to the operations warden. 50:59 And he was very receptive, he was very interested in it. 51:02 And said to him, share one package with us. 51:05 In fact the ones you just showed today 51:08 are the packages that we're going to share with them, 51:11 and then they'll get to decide 51:13 what in the package they would allow or not allow. 51:16 And we hope that very soon 51:18 we'll be able to have our second prison here in Illinois, 51:21 introduced with Christmas Behind Bars. 51:24 Every year we try to do a concert in a prison 51:28 as well as the gift package and, yes. 51:31 And then not only that, 51:32 you minister on a weekly basis to your local county jail, 51:36 to the prisons, to the federal prison. 51:37 And so that's really phenomenal. 51:39 I would like to say that 51:40 if anybody is interested in the ministry, 51:42 or a chaplain, or a warden. 51:44 We have a stack of letters 51:45 of recommendation from other prisons 51:48 that we can send to let them know 51:49 that the ministry is legit. 51:52 Okay. We have about a minute. 51:54 Time has flown before we go to the newsbreak. 51:59 Lieutenant Malone, is there anything 52:01 you would like to share here before we go to newsbreak 52:04 about either corrections 52:06 or your involvement with Christmas Behind Bars? 52:09 Any words that you'd like to share? 52:12 I just think that over the ten years that I've done this that 52:15 it has just been a very positive thing 52:19 and I don't think that any facility could go wrong 52:23 with that partnering with Christmas Behind Bars. 52:27 Because it's only positive for both 52:29 the staff and the inmates. 52:32 And it really does put like a calming in the air. 52:36 And you would really be surprised of the effect 52:39 that it does have during that time 52:41 even if it's for a week or two weeks after, 52:44 you just don't know 52:46 how much that time means when they come in, 52:48 and do what they do, it's a very good partnership. 52:51 Well, thank you 52:52 and those who are involved in the program, 52:54 from your church... 52:56 will also be blessed. 52:58 Anyone who goes in, will be blessed 53:01 by the experience of being involved, 53:03 either putting the package together 53:05 or helping in sharing 53:07 as they give out the packages 53:10 will be very, very blessed. 53:13 Our newsbreak is coming up here in just a few seconds. 53:17 But be sure and come back 53:19 and we'll put a sort of a bow on this program 53:22 and close it out. 53:24 And we'll see you in just a minute. |
Revised 2016-05-23